Game of Tones at Bödön Handicrafts Market by Endre Nahóczky, Hungary

In Szeged, Hungary, there is a handicrafts ¹market called Bödön (https://bodonpiac.wordpress.com/), which was launched in September 2013. This market provides a great place for farmers, artisans and craftsmen to sell their products. The list of products is continuously growing giving a wide range of choices to the customers. There are foods like home-made cheese, meat products, marmalades, cottage cheese and drinks like homemade syrups or beverages². We can find cookies and cakes, too, which are made of healthy ingredients. In the course of the years, a lot of handmade products appeared too, beside the food and beverages. In this range, we can find bracelets, necklaces and rings made of leather, crystal, rag or plasticine. Apart from design jewellery, customers can choose from beautiful hand-made pottery, kitchen tools, bags, phone cases, clothes and toys, as well.

The market is organized between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. every second Sunday of the month in the “streets” of a shopping mall. As the only requirement from the sellers is to fit the profile of the market and pay a daily fee of 20 euros for their stand, it is a great opportunity for beginner and more experienced small entrepreneurs, too. Apart from this, the initiative is also beneficial ³for the customers who can buy high-quality home-made food along with unique handicrafts.

In September 2016, the Hungarian school company, Game of Tones decided to try their luck in this market and sell their colourable products there, too. In the first market (in September 2016)

they managed to make a nice profit and were happy to have found a regular market with regular customers. “Later in the fall, we did not have enough time, money or products to go to Bödön, so we took a little break. Then, we made new products, like calendars or the world map poster, so we decided to try again. In 2017, we went there 3 times, but the profit was less than before, unfortunately. However, we’ll keep trying till the end of the school year!” says Adriána Aczkov, mentor teacher of the school company.

¹ handicraft - work that needs both skills with the hands and artistic skills

² beverage - any type if drink except water

³ beneficial - having helpful or useful effects